FitzGerald calls on Kasich to call legislature back into session

Gov. John Kasich needs to call the legislation back for a special session because one out of
eight Ohio children are flunking the third-grade reading test, meaning that many of them will be
held back next year, says Democratic challenger Ed FitzGerald.

"Last month, I called for a moratorium on the third grade reading guarantee because it was clear
that Ohio's schools do not have sufficient resources to meet this unfunded mandate," the Cuyahoga
County executive said in a news release this morning.

Statewide results show that about 88 percent have passed the test, part of what lawmakers call
the "third-grade reading guarantee." More could pass the test this summer, while those in special
education or other circumstances could be exempt from taking the test.

"This week's test results reinforce that in order to ensure our children are reading at grade
level by the third grade we must make a real investment in early childhood education and universal
pre-k," FitzGerald said. "In the meantime, the governor must also call the legislature back from
their summer recess to place a moratorium on the third-grade reading guarantee and
to appropriate the needed resources to ensure that the Ohio children who don't pass the test
get the resources in 4th grade they need."

Ohio Republican Party spokesman Chris Schrimpf's response: "Ed FitzGerald says he’s okay with
Ohio fourth graders reading at the third-grade level or below. That kind of idea just shows how
unfit he is to lead our state. On top of that, Ed continues to propose an unspecified amount of new
spending without saying how he'd pay for it."

Schrimpf said the state spends more than $800 million in early childhood education programs and
already has earmarked $150 million to help students achieve the third-grade reading guarantee.